2015 Saint-Denis raid

The 2015 Saint-Denis raid occurred on 18 November 2015, when 100 French police and soldiers raided an apartment in the Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, France, leading to the deaths of 3 terror suspects and one police dog. Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, the police identified Abdelhamid Abaaoud as the suspected mastermind of the attacks, and the police decided to organize surveillance of Abaaoud's relative in Saint-Denis at 8 rue du Corbillon. On 17 November, the police viewed Abaaoud entering Hasna Aitboulahcen's apartment in Saint-Denis, and, at 4:20 AM the next morning, the police launched an assault on the apartment. The initial offensive was repelled by the militants, and, as the apartment door was armored, the police explosives were ineffective. The militants were able to arm themselves and respond, and, at 5:55 AM, trucks carrying French military reinforcements arrived, as did ambulances. Around 7:20 AM, heavy gunfire erupted and multiple police grenade explosions were heard by residents nearby. Terrorist Chakib Akrouh lured police into the building in an attempt to draw them into the blast range of his suicide vest, but he instead blew himself and Abaaoud up, while Aitboulahcen died asphyxiated under the debris. The siege ended by 8:20 AM, with 3 militants being killed and 8 arrested. The police dog Diesel was allegedly killed in a friendly fire incident.